Federal Council elections in the ticker Martin Pfister: "Now it's about celebrating and I want to see my friends"

Switzerland is looking to Bern with excitement: the Federal Assembly is today deciding the successor to Defense Minister Viola Amherd.

A portrait of Martin PfisterFrom Health Director to Federal Councillor

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11.49 a.m.

Martin Pfister feels ready for the Federal Council post

The newly elected centrist Federal Councillor Martin Pfister considers himself well prepared for office thanks to his Federal Council election campaign. In an interview with Keystone-SDA, he said that he would be able to benefit from his direct contacts with members of parliament and the questions asked in parliamentary group hearings.

Having personal relationships with members of parliament is certainly important for his future office, Pfister said in an interview after his election. He had spoken to almost all members of parliament during the election campaign. The questions in the hearings had shown him which topics were topical.

He had stayed in a small room in the morning and watched the election on television with his wife and a colleague.

When asked whether the army needed more money, the man from Zug, who is likely to take over the Department of Defense, answered in the affirmative. Not only does the army not have enough armaments, it is also understaffed.

The fact that army chief Thomas Süssli is not leaving office until the end of the year is an opportunity to appoint a good successor and develop a vision for the future of the army. It will also be a matter of determining the security policy role in Europe and its new security architecture.

10.33 a.m.

Now Pfister's colleagues congratulate her on her election

Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter speaks on X. She congratulates the new Federal Councillor on his election.

The other Federal Councillors join in Keller-Sutter's congratulations. They post the Federal Councillor's contribution on X.

Ich gratuliere Martin Pfister und heisse ihn im Bundesrat herzlich willkommen.

Félicitations à Martin Pfister. Je lui souhaite la bienvenue au Conseil fédéral.

Congratulazioni a Martin Pfister. Gli porgo un caloroso benvenuto nel Consiglio federale. https://t.co/ff8OyqoWFQ

— Karin Keller-Sutter (@keller_sutter) March 12, 2025

10.16 a.m.

10.04 a.m.

Watch your step - Pfister stumbles while shaking hands

When Martin Pfister climbs up to the President of the National Council to shake her hand, the newly elected Federal Councillor promptly stumbles. The pictures in the video.

9.45 a.m.

Ritter: "My wife deserves the greatest thanks"

Now Ritter speaks: "It was a great honor for me." He very much appreciated the way Pfister and Ritter worked together.

"I'm delighted for Martin that he can now take on this task. I didn't know him before. But I can tell you: I have gained a friend," he continues.

Ritter thanks his family. It has been an intense two months. "My wife Heidi was prepared to go through the whole thing. She deserves the greatest thanks."

Ritter now answers questions from journalists.

It was a strong candidacy with different experiences. "For me, Pfister is a good choice. For the country, the party and the future," says Ritter. He will step down in three years, in 2028.

9.36 a.m.

Pirmin Bischof: "He is a good Federal Councillor"

Pirmin Bischof, member of the Council of States SO (center), on blue News: "I'm not surprised by Pfister's election. He is a good Federal Councillor. I think he could become a real Federal Councillor of the heart because of his personality. And I trust him to tackle the challenges in the DDPS and master them."

9.28 a.m.

The moment Pfister was elected

9.25 a.m.

Rösti: "I'm delighted"

Pfister leaves the room immediately after being sworn in. A meeting with his new Federal Councillor colleagues, an aperitif from his home canton and a tour of the media await him.

The Federal Councillors shake Pfister's hand and wish him all the best. "Nice to meet you," says Rösti with a broad grin. Shortly afterwards, the first photo is taken.

9.17 a.m.

"I accept the election"

The new Federal Councillor Martin Pfister is greeted with applause and a standing ovation in Parliament.

"The Federal Assembly has just elected you as a member of the Federal Council. Do you accept the election?" Riniker asks him.

"My place is now in the Federal Council," says Pfister. "It's a great honor for me and I thank you very much for it. I would also like to thank my fellow candidate Markus Ritter. It was a grueling but fair election campaign," he continues.

"It is with great pleasure and great respect that I accept the election," says Pfister with a smile.

"I wish you all the best and joy in your new office," says Riniker.

The swearing-in ceremony is now over.

The results of the second ballot: Martin Pfister is the new Federal Councillor with 134 votes

The ballot papers have been counted. The results of the second ballot:

245 ballot papers were distributed, 245 ballot papers were received, none were cast blank or invalid. The absolute majority is 123 votes.

Pfister: 134 votes.

Martin Pfiste is therefore the new Federal Councillor.

Ritter: 110 votes.

Various: One vote.

#Bundesratswahl25 #ElectionConseilFédéral25

2. Wahlgang/2ème tour de scrutin 🗳️

Gewählt ist/Est élu:

👉Martin Pfister

mit / avec 134 Stimmen / voix von / sur 245 gültigen Stimmen / bulletins valables. pic.twitter.com/pkHRKbcdi3

— Parl CH (@ParlCH) March 12, 2025

8.58 a.m.

DDPS says goodbye to Amherd

The DDPS also says goodbye to Viola Amherd on X:

Das VBS dankt im Namen aller Mitarbeitenden Bundesrätin @Violapamherd herzlich für ihr enormes Engagement in den vergangenen Jahren, zahlreiche erfolgreich abgeschlossene Projekte sowie für ihren wichtigen Beitrag zur Stärkung der #Sicherheit für die #Schweiz. pic.twitter.com/AXQ8NRpurk

— VBS - DDPS (@vbs_ddps) March 12, 2025

8.57 a.m.

The second round of voting begins

The tellers collect the ballot papers.

8.43 a.m.

The results of the first ballot

The ballot papers have been counted. The results of the first ballot:

245 ballot papers were distributed, 245 ballot papers were received, none were blank or invalid. The absolute majority is 123 votes.

Pfister: 122 votes.

Ritter: 105 votes.

Other candidates: 18 votes.

8.45 a.m.

Farewell on X

Viola Amherd prononce son discours d’adieu devant l'Assemblée fédérale. Ein riesiges Dankeschön für den Einsatz und grossen Gestaltungswillen zu Gunsten der Schweizer Bevölkerung. MERCI, VIOLA AMHERD! ❤️🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/MHDzhJZBXy

— Die Mitte – Le Centre (@Mitte_Centre) March 12, 2025

The centrist parliamentary group says goodbye to Viola Amherd on Twitter.

8.26 a.m.

The first round of voting begins - the votes are counted

The first round of voting begins. Riniker reads out the rules that must be observed. For example, the name must be clearly written down. Filming and photography are also prohibited. The ballot papers are distributed.

Now the orange ballot papers are collected. The candidate who clears the absolute majority hurdle, i.e. receives half of all valid votes plus one, is elected. Blank and invalid ballot papers are not counted. Markus Ritter may also vote as a member of the National Council. The election is secret.

It will take a moment for the 245 ballot papers to be counted.

8.26 a.m.

Bregy: "We expect the parliamentary groups to adhere to the election proposal"

Philipp Bregy now speaks on behalf of the Center Group. He also thanks Amherd for her work. "As the strongest force in the Council of States, the centrist group is entitled to a seat in the Federal Council," says Bregy. "With Ritter and Pfister, we have nominated two strong politicians. We expect the parliamentary groups to adhere to the election proposal."

8.13 a.m.

Amherd: "We have to approach each other"

Viola Amherd now speaks, visibly emotional. "Especially in these turbulent times, we have to approach each other," says the outgoing Federal Councillor.

When someone asks her what Switzerland is all about, she likes to tell them about a night-time encounter, says Amherd. When she was walking home alone late one evening, she crossed a jogger and he stopped abruptly. "I was startled, what does he want now?" Amherd asked herself. He had simply noticed that she was doing a good job as a Federal Councillor, Amherd told the Council. However, he then added that he would still vote against her proposal.

Outgoing Federal Councillor Amherd calls for the political culture and the political system to be taken care of. As Minister of Defense, she also spoke about the security situation in Europe. "Europe must be able to rely on a secure Switzerland," says the middle woman.

At the end, the woman from Valais expresses her thanks in Italian - and fights back tears: "It was an honor to have served our country."

8.06 a.m.

Riniker: "They made history"

"You made history, you were the first woman to take over the DDPS. The first woman to head the Swiss Armed Forces," says National Council President Maja Riniker about the departing Federal Councillor Viola Amherd.

Riniker continues: "They also faced headwinds in Bern. But they stayed the course. They proved that in politics, it's not just about hitting the mark, but about keeping an eye on the big picture."

08:03 a.m.

No election recommendation from the Greens

The Greens are unlikely to make an election recommendation for the Federal Council elections. This is what parliamentary group leader Aline Trede told the Keystone-SDA news agency early on Wednesday morning before the final election meeting of her parliamentary group.

The SP is also not making a recommendation, as they told "20 Minuten".

8 a.m.

Here we go

At eight o'clock, National Council President Maja Riniker will ring the bell to open the session.

Before the elections take place, the outgoing Federal Councillor Viola Amherd will be bid farewell. The heads of the parliamentary groups will then present their positions. Only then will the ballot papers be distributed.

06.00 a.m.

Markus Ritter: "I have a good feeling"

blue News meets Markus Ritter on Wednesday morning. "I have a good feeling," he says. "I know my colleagues. I know what the recommendations and sensitivities are. So I have a good feeling."

"The opinion-forming process is complete," Ritter continues. Many people have stood up for him, in the Council of States and in the National Council.

From sharks to baby newsWhat happened on the eve of the Federal Council elections - 11 insights

The starting shot has been fired

Good morning. Here we go. The Federal Council elections are taking place in Bern today. From 8 a.m. it will be decided who will succeed the centrist Federal Councillor Viola Amherd. On the centrist ticket are Zug cantonal councillor Martin Pfister and St. Gallen National Councillor Markus Ritter.

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